[ cheers and applause ] >> jimmy: hello there. still to come, music from panama wedding. our next guest was born into a family with auto racing in its blood and motor oil in its salad dressing. he is in pursuit of his first sprint cup championship. the chase begins sunday on espn. please welcome dale earnhardt jr. [ cheers and applause ] >> jimmy: i haven't seen you for awhile. glad that you're here. congratulations. you had an excellent season so far. you've had, what, three wins -- >> yeah, three wins. >> jimmy: no tickets for texting while driving. >> of course not. that's dangerous. >> jimmy: how does this chase

work? this is a playoff system that nascar has now. >> you're asking the wrong guy. >> jimmy: you don't know? >> it's new, so we're all sort of learning -- it's a little confusing but we're all kind of learning it as we go. there's four rounds and there's 16 drivers and each round, four drivers get eliminated, so, you want to get to the very end and be one of the last four drivers. js >> jimmy: america votes? >> it's sort of like, kind of like that, if you win, you get immunity. stay on the island. >> jimmy: you get the immunity idol. i got you. you ever bump another car just for the hell of it, just for fun? >> not for fun. you do it -- you get mad sometimes, so, i mean, one instance happened back when i was probably a rookie and i was running at sonoma, not one of my better tracks. i was running in the back. not going to finish well. i got answer hi withangry with and spun him out. it was hot and i didn't know it,

but my nose was bleeding during the race and so i'm racing and i wreck the guy and the crew chief comes up to the car at the end of the race to have a word with me, punch me in the face, something. and he just looks at me with -- his eyes get huge as dollar signs and he just -- he turns around, walks off. and i was like, what happened, man? i must have really scared this guy off, i was really intimidating, or, you know, just had this red, upset. he was just ranting. but i went to, i got out of the car and my crew's like, man, you're bleeding, you got blood everywhere. i looked, i'm like, my nose had been -- >> jimmy: that's a good way to avoid being hit. start bleeding before. >> that's kind of what happened. [ applause ] >> jimmy: now, i remember many, many years ago, we got to go and look around in your rv and that was pretty great. and now you've got a big place in north carolina and i love what you've done to it.

i have to say. and i assume this is something that you've done to your place. this is -- this is your house. >> yeah, that's my western -- not my house. that's actually a western town that we built. >> jimmy: on your grounds. >> yes. >> jimmy: why did you build a western town? >> well, we had this -- i used to have -- when i got this house, i wanted to -- i'm still partying with my friends, having a good time, not too regularly, about every week. i didn't want to destroy the house. my friends get boozed up, they go upstairs and you're finding people sleeping in the hall the next day. >> jimmy: you have the same group of friends i do. >> yes. so, i thought the whiskey river would be fun. >> jimmy: so, you built a -- this is a is a sloon? >> that's the saloon. i saw an old 60 minutes rerun with willie nelson and he had bought a piece of property that had a western town movie set on it in texas and he finished out all the -- the whole thing to where everything worked. i thought, that's the idea.

>> jimmy: but he was very high when he made that decision. [ laughter ] this is a -- this is a great addition. and i'd love to know how this works exactly. you've got a little jail there. >> yeah. there's the jail. >> jimmy: is there a jail inside the building? >> there actually, conveniently, there is a jail. >> jimmy: have any of your friends wound up in it? >> of course. we had some guys that get a little rough, get rowdy in the middle of the night and we're, you know, that's the kind of stuff that ruins the party. >> jimmy: yes. are you the sheriff of the town? >> i'm the voice of reason. i'm like, man, just sleep it off here and just lock it up. [ laughter ] >> jimmy: this is -- you also have a car collection, but not the kind of car collection that people -- that you typically see. these cars do not drive. >> yeah. >> jimmy: and they're just strewn all over your -- >> that car's not going anywhere. >> jimmy: all over the land? >> yeah. i own a race team and these cars are so expensive to build and when we would crash them beyond

repair, i wouldn't bring myself to throw them away. i have this spot on my land full of trails that we ride on. my mom walks for exercise. we started throwing the cars back there. >> jimmy: how did this one wind up in a tree in your yard? >> yeah, that's -- that's actually an indycar from will power and i got that from my buddy brad keselowski and -- funny story, my mom's walking the trail, i don't know that it's there. that it's arrived and been placed in the fork of this tree. i've got some property managers with some pretty good sense of humor. and my mom's like, texting me, she's like, the bobsled is so cool! and i'm like, what bobsled? we got a bobsled! and then i found out it was an indycar. >> jimmy: you also have a statue of forrest gump on your property. >> yes. >> jimmy: why, first of all? >> i'm a big tom hanks fan. >> jimmy: okay. >> and i guess i'm, like, really hard to shop for.

my sister bought me that for a birthday gift. >> jimmy: where did she find it? >> outside a bar. >> jimmy: outside a bar. and -- was it for sale? >> i guess she just asked the owner if it was for sale. >> jimmy: so, this is what -- this is what you see if you go over to dale's house. [ applause ] forrest keeping an eye on everything. >> so patient. so patient. been there forever. >> jimmy: one of your pals michael waltrip is going to be on "dancing with the stars" this season. you're aware of this, i assume. >> can you believe you just said that? every time i hear that, i run that back through. >> jimmy: have you seen him dance? i gamble on this. i need to know who i'm going to bet on. probably not -- probably wouldn't be neerp tar the top o list. >> i think, though, that he may win because people want to continue seeing him week after week. he's -- i don't know if he can dance or not. i think it will be a string puppet kind of. but --

[ laughter ] if he gets kind of, you know, polished and tutored up -- i think just the pure entertainment value is going to get him a lot of votes. >> jimmy: from you, probably. >> has that ever happened to vote the guy on just to keep seeing -- >> jimmy: i think it happened to san ji ya on american e"america" maybe he can be the sanjaya of "dancing with the stars." >> i'm going to vote for him. and i encourage others. >> jimmy: you can spearhead that effort. i look forward to seeing that. very good to see you. good luck with the chase. i hope it goes well. dale earnhardt jr. the chase for the nascar sprint cup starts sunday live, 2:00 p.m. eastern on espn. we'll be right back with panama weddin wedding.

>> jimmy: i want to thank queen

latifah, dale earnhardt jr. apologize to matt damon, we ran out of time. "nightline" is next. but first, their album is called "parallel play." here with the song "all of the people," panama wedding! ♪ ♪ ♪ i said babe aren't we a little bit old now for this crazy game ♪ ♪ it's safe now that winter's gone but i think we could use a little memory ♪ ♪ to add to the database i saved a little bit of money ♪

♪ i put in the vault hidden behind the face on the red room wall i took everything ♪ ♪ i wanted i took everything i need all in a day ♪ ♪ oh maybe they just want me to leave all of the people all of the people stand ♪ ♪ standing to wait waiting for the concrete to break all of the people ♪ ♪ all of the people take take it away you know maybe you just ♪ ♪ made me believe the days the days feel a little bit longer now ♪ ♪ and the mornings bright if we escape now and leave this place i hope heaven has another ♪ ♪ open door for us when the day is getting late

i saved a little bit ♪ ♪ of money i put in the vault hidden behind the face on the red room wall ♪ ♪ i took everything i wanted i took everything i need all in a day oh maybe ty just ♪ ♪ want me to leave all of the people all of the people stand standing to wait ♪ ♪ waiting for the concrete to break all of the people all of the people take ♪ ♪ take it away you know maybe you just made me believe ♪ ♪ we woke up late still half asleep with the airport line out in the street ♪ ♪ i said baby i know you wanted to stay but the weekend rush won't let us wait ♪ ♪ we woke up late still half asleep with the airport line out in the street ♪ ♪ i said baby i know

you wanted to stay but the weekend rush won't let us wait ♪ ♪ all of the people all of the people stand standing to wait waiting for the ♪ ♪ concrete to break all of the people all of the people take take it away ♪ ♪ you know maybe you just made me believe ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ we were searching for an easy way to say to you but the writing's on the wall ♪ ♪ oh oh oh ♪ oh we've come to see what you'll say of what you are ♪ ♪ but you leave us wanting more ♪ ♪ oh oh oh ♪ uma why are you hiding the world isn't crying ♪ ♪ uma oh i wish i didn't love you but i do ♪

♪ uma better watch what you say ♪ ♪ uma when you're talking that way uma ♪ ♪ oh i wish i didn't love you but i do ♪od ♪ past the public school an early evening pickup run west astoria boulevard ♪ ♪ oh oh oh ♪ uma says it's funny how our memories fade like setting suns this is "nightline." tonight, breaking news.

>> my fellow americans. >> in a rare primetime address, president obama announcing a plan to destroy the extremists of isis. >> if you threaten america, you will find no safe haven. >> the terror group responsible for killing two american hostages and wreaking havoc in iraq and syria. >> we will hunt down terrorists wherever they are. >> why the president is ramping up american involvement on the eve of 9/11 and what it could mean for us back home. plus, nfl firestorm. new calls for the league commissioner to step down as a report suggests they had seen that shocking video months ago of ray rice cold coming his then fiance. what did they really know and when did they know it? and, on the edge. >> the last thing i remember is getting in my hammock and went to sleep. >> how did this man sleepwalk off a cliff, falling 60 fee and live to tell the tale? but first, the "nightline" five.

when folks think about what they get from alaska, they think salmon and energy. but the energy bp produces up here creates something else, as well. jobs. all over america. engineering an innovatn jobs, advanced safety systems and technology. shipping and manufacturing. across the united states, bp supports more than a quarter million jobs. when we set up operation in one part of the country, people in other parts go to work. that's not a coincidence. it's one more part of our commitment to america. number one in just 60 seconds.

good evening. tonight, president obama addressed the nation with a plan to destroy the so-called islamic state. a group that's terrorized civilians in syria and iraq. but the shocking videos of two american journalists being

beheaded raise new questions about the threat they pose to the american homeland. and now the president is preparing to take action. i'm joined now by abc's chief white house correspondent jon karl with all the details. >> reporter: good evening, dan. two weeks after the president said he didn't have a strategy for taking on isis in syria, he sought to reassure the american public that he does have a plan, a comprehensive plan for taking on what many in his administration call the greatest terrorist threat since 9/11. >> my mfellow americans. >> reporter: it was a remarkable moment. >> tonight, with a new iraqi government in place, and following consultations with allies abroad and congress at home, i can announce that america will lead a broad coalition to roll back this terrorist threat. >> reporter: on the eve of 9/11, president obama announcing a new offensive on islamic extremists in iraq and syria. >> our objective is clear. we will degrade and ultimately

destroy isil, through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy. >> reporter: key elements of the plan includexz sending 475 more u.s. troops to iraq to train and advise the iraqi security forces. bringing the total number of u.s. military personnel in iraq to more than 1,600.ç expanding u.s. air strikes in iraq. training moderate rebels fighting isis in syria. and, in the biggest escalation, white house officials say the president has decided to launch air strikes on isis safe havens in syria, although they won't say when. >> i've made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists that threaten our country, wherever they are. if you threaten america, you will find no safe haven. >> reporter: u.s. officials say isis is the biggest terror threat since 9/11. what the homeland security secretary called a group of depraved criminals, rapists, kidnappers and killers. in iraq, isis coms one-third of

the country, stretching deep into northern syria, where they've spread fear with a sophisticated social media campaign. >> isil is a terrorist organization, pure and simple. and it has no vision other than the slaughter of all who stand in its way. in a region that has known so much bloodshed, these treerroris are unique in the. >> reporter: the execution of two american journalists in syria stirred public opinion, ramping up pressure on the president to take stronger action. >> they took the lives of two american journalists, jim foley and steven sotloff. if left unchecked, these terrorists could pose a growing threat beyond that region. including to the united states. >> reporter: in the latest abc news/"washington post" poll, 65% of americans support air strikes against isis in syria, with 91% saying isis is a serious threat

to u.s. vital interests. the president tonight sought to project a resolute and reassuring image, after weeks of muddled and contra districtry statements. >> i don't want to put the cart before the horse. we don't have a strategy yet. >> reporter: exactly one year after ruling out an extended air campaign in syria -- >> i will not pursue a prolonged air campaign like libya or kosovo. >> reporter: the president may be on the verge of starting one. >> this counterterrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out isil wherever they exist, using our air power and our support from partners from forces on the ground. >> reporter: the president said no u.s. combat boots on the ground in iraq of syria. a message john kerry delivered personally today in baghdad. >> the president of the united states and other leaders of other countries have eliminated the notion of their forces being engaged in direct combat.

>> reporter: still, the number of u.s. troops in iraq has been quietly rising. they may not be combat forces, but they face combat danger. just last week, there was reported gun fire aimed at the u.s. embassy in baghdad. republics have criticized the president's posture towards the threat as too cautious. >> president obama seems willfully blind to one of the key facts about the post-9/11 security apparatus. it is not self-sustaining. >> reporter: congress could vote next week to authorize u.s. military training of syrian rebels in the fight against isis. a fight the white house says could last for years. for "nightline," i'm jonathan karl at the white house. >> the president's speech would seem to elevate the stakes even further for any other american captives being held by the terror group. abc's chief investigative correspondent brian ross joins us now. brian, what can you tell us about what this may mean for them and the american homeland? >> well, dan, the turning point for the u.s. in dealing with isis came after those videos of two american journalists being

brutally executed. there are at least two other americans and three westerners still being held and their fate tonight is in serious doubt. the search for the two remaining american hostages did take on greater urgency tonight with the president's speech. but given what has already happened to james foley and steven sotloff, people in the intelligence community say the reality is grim. >> i think the united states has to realize that the probability is, anyone held by isis is going to be killed in response to stepped up american attacks. >> reporter: now, the effort to track the identities and movements of the masked man seen on camera and others offcamera will get added resources. >> full weight of the united states military and the full weight of the united states intelligence community is now going to be targeted at isis. >> reporter: every video, every online message from isis and its recruits is now being closely examined. >> so here, if you go in here,

this is the room where the mujahadin sleep. >> reporter: among the videos being reviewed this is online post from earlier this year, by a group of british isis members showing off the place where they lived in syria. >> everyone has their own designated space. obviously sometimes brothers get messy, sometimes, you know, things get turned upside down. >> reporter: the video shows cell phones plugged in and the area where the british accented narrow or the says they produce the group's propaganda. >> this is where most of the media work happens, on this little desk here. >> reporter: today, the british isis members posted this ominous message of a new video coming tomorrow, september 11th. do not stop me from martyrdom, for it will be the celebration of my new life. with the fateful anniversary date now, american law enforcement officials today warned of the threat from isis recruits coming back to the u.s. new york police commissioner william bratton. >> isis creates a totally new

area of threat for us and one that is probably eveven more potentially impactful on us than al qaeda. >> reporter: and the commissioner pointed to the power of the isis propaganda videos being produced to recruit new members. >> their ability to inspire, not only those who will go there to fight and then potentially come back, but also to inspire the so-called lone wolves, those sitting in their basements, pouring over their computer terminals. they have an incredible act to influence those young men and women. >> reporter: and this 19-year-old nurse's aide from denver is one of the young women who apparently fell for it. federal prosecutors say she was lured into becoming the bride of a 32-year-old isis fighter in syria, a recent muslim convert, connelly said she had found a kindred spirit and began training in military tactics and weapons. it was only after members of this denver church tipped off the fbi that the government moved in to stop her from flying off to syria. today, in federal court in denver, connelly pleaded guilty

to conspiracy, with her lawyer saying she had been led terribly astray, using her muslim name, halima. >> like all of us, halima has been horrified to learn of the slaughter and oppression at the hands of the people controlling isis. it was never her vision to have any role in any of that. halima is fully aware that the fact that she was arrested may very well have saved her. >> reporter: but the greater concern is of the american recruits who were not caught in time. >> i think the fear in the white house tonight has to be that the president announces something against isis tonight and there's an attack tomorrow. the truth would be, however, that isis is going after us anyway and has been planning that for a long ti. >> reporter: the u.s. says it has no information of any imminent attack by isis or any other group.

but as it has been for the last 13 years, september 11th will again be a day of great anxiety. brian ross, abc news, new york. coming up next, a new scandal rocks the nfl. now, the calls for the commissioner to step down. what exactly did the league commissioner to step down. what exactly did the league execs know and when? it all... 'cause red lobster's one and only endless shrimp is now! endless choices! endless variety! kick it up with our spicy new wood-grilled sriracha shrimp and it's back: parmesan crusted shrimp scampi! the year's largest variety of shrimp flavors! so many to explore! as much as you like, any way you like! endless shrimp is here! but not for long. so hurry in and sea food differently. how can i ease this pain? (man) when i can't go, it's like rocks piling up.

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